Chapter 176: with translation of chapter title

Brother, I did something really terrible, I almost killed someone, what should I do?

Time went back a few days.

Shi Jin, who was tutoring lower-grade students, received a call from his sister.

"Yao Yao?" His sister's sobbing voice startled Shi Jin; after informing the student beside him, he got up and went to the balcony, anxiously asking, "What's wrong? What happened?"

"……Mom insisted I secure the opening violin performance of Mr. Mingzhuo's work, but the final list came out with Pei Muyin selected; Mom kept pressing me, and I, I didn't dare tell Mom I hadn't gotten it, and then……"

Shi Yao was flustered, her voice trembling.

"Then I, I when Pei Muyin passed by, I…… that steel frame fell down; if I hadn't shouted to stop her, she would have been killed by me."

"Brother, I'm so scared, what should I do, waa waa waa."

Shi Jin gripped the phone, his brows furrowing higher the more he listened.

From his sister's incoherent words he quickly sorted out the whole story, just as he was about to say something.

"Is this Shi Yao? We are officers from the Xiqian Branch; this is our identification. You are suspected of involvement in a public safety incident and must come with us for questioning……"

A brief clamor, then the phone hung up.

When Shi Jin called back, he heard the prompt that no one answered.

He was frantic; after a moment's thought, he asked leave from the tutoring student's parent and booked a flight from An Shi to Jing Shi.

In the taxi to the airport, Shi Jin tried calling his mother Shi Qing's number.

He didn't expect it to go through, because his mother had blocked his contact for a long time.

But surprisingly, the call got through.

"Little Jin."

Hearing his mother's long-unheard familiar voice, Shi Jin even spaced out for a few seconds.

"Mom, my sister——"

"My sister has been taken away by the police; she's likely to go to jail." On the other end, Shi Qing's tone sounded somewhat weary as she said, "Little Jin, you're the only one who can save your sister now."

Only he could save his sister?

Shi Jin couldn't grasp the meaning of that sentence right away, but having no time to ponder, he sent the flight details to his mother.

The plane landed.

Shi Jin saw his mother at the exit; she stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

Without any reservation.

It seemed as if the two, who had been in a cold war for nearly a year, were not mother and son.

Shi Qing's car was parked outside the airport; she opened the passenger door for her son, then walked around to the driver's side and got in.

"Little Jin, you must be tired after such a long flight."

……The same long-lost concern.

Shi Jin stiffly fastened his seatbelt and replied curtly, "I'm fine."

Then he asked his mother what she meant by saying on the phone that only he could save his sister.

Shi Qing didn't answer directly; her eyes swept over her son's thin autumn school uniform jacket, her brows knitting as she said, "Little Jin, you need to change clothes first—aren't you on winter break? Why are you still wearing the school uniform."

She said.

Shi Qing drove on her own to a nearby clothing store, spent half a day picking from the racks, and handed him a full set of clothes.

"……"

Shi Jin looked at the thick coat and pants in his mother's hand, feeling they would be especially warm when worn.

——It is winter now.

Shi Jin pursed his lips, silently took the clothes and went to the changing room.

After changing, he came out.

Shi Qing nodded satisfied: "Hmm, it fits well."

Shi Jin politely asked the clerk to bag the school uniform he had just taken off, but Shi Qing stopped him.

"What's the point of keeping those clothes? Just throw them away."

Shi Jin explained: "This is my school uniform."

He will need to wear it again when school resumes.

Shi Qing's expression instantly turned displeased.

This was the sign that Mom was about to launch into a lecture; just as Shi Jin thought things would proceed as expected, he actually heard his mother relent.

"Alright, then pack it up and take it with you."

Shi Jin stared blankly for a long while, feeling his mother had suddenly become much more agreeable.

Was it because they hadn't seen each other for such a long time?

Feeling the warmth from the coat on his body, Shi Jin naturally took it as his mother's concern.

Then he unconsciously reflected, wondering if he had been too cold toward his mother at the airport just now.

Shi Qing took the bag containing the school uniform from the clerk: "Little Jin, let's go."

They didn't leave the mall; they went to the barbershop downstairs.

As soon as Shi Qing entered, she told the barber her request, asking him to give Shi Jin a haircut.

Shi Jin said his hair had just been cut the previous week.

"Still needs a trim; the barbershop you found yourself definitely isn't up to par." Shi Qing insisted, pointing to the side of Shi Jin's head: "Look, this right side is uneven, how ugly."

"……"

Changing clothes, haircut.

Only upon arriving here did Shi Jin realize his mother seemed to be taking him to meet someone, so she needed him to tidy up his appearance.

Indeed.

Shi Jin had guessed correctly; after leaving the barbershop, Shi Qing again led him straight to a restaurant.

The restaurant was of very high standard; outside its luxurious lobby came and went only luxury cars; stepping into the lobby, beneath their feet was a carpet with intricate patterns, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance.

A well-mannered waiter led Shi Qing and Shi Jin inside; the restaurant's interior was another world, and after passing through a water corridor, they stopped outside a private room.

"Little Jin, when we go in later you must definitely perform well, understand?"

Shi Qing gave Shi Jin this reminder for the fifth time.

Shi Jin asked his mother doubtfully: '... Who is inside?'

"They are someone who can help your sister; you'll know when you see them."

After saying that.

Shi Qing reached out and pushed open the door of the private room.

The interior was exquisitely decorated.

Seated at the upper place was a dignified and luxurious lady, draped in an embroidered cashmere shawl, her silver hair tied into a low bun at the back, elegant and dignified.

"Aunt."

Shi Qing called out eagerly toward the person.

"Coming." Madame Xia smiled slightly, her gaze skipping over Shi Qing and landing directly on Shi Jin beside her, her eyes lighting up: "Is this Little Jin?"

"Yes, he's called Shi Jin." Shi Qing hurriedly pushed her son forward two steps, bringing him before Madame Xia: "Little Jin, call her grandma."

"Grandma?"

Shi Jin was utterly astonished; he was a child from a single-parent family, having lived since childhood only with his mother and sister.

After a moment of stunned silence, he vaguely realized the identity of the person before him.

Madame Xia rose to her feet, carefully scrutinizing Shi Jin; on her face, lined with fine wrinkles yet unable to hide her youthful beauty, a slowly emerging expression of moved relief appeared.

"He looks just like, really just like my Ah Chuan, as if carved from the same mold, equally handsome." Madame Xia eagerly introduced herself to Shi Jin: "Child, I'm your grandma, do you know?"

Shi Qing urged her son: 'Little Jin, quickly, call out "grandma," this is your biological grandma.'

"..." Shi Jin looked at Madame Xia with a complex expression, motionless.

The atmosphere instantly turned a bit awkward.

Shi Qing hurriedly smoothed things over: 'Sorry, Auntie, this child might just be a little shy.'

"It's no problem." Madame Xia waved her hand, not taking it to heart, her gaze toward Shi Jin full of kindness and tolerance: "We've never met before; suddenly asking the child to call grandma would throw anyone off."

Hearing the words 'never met before,' Shi Qing paused, looking extremely helpless and sorrowful: 'Auntie, actually… I shouldn't have come to see you.'

Little Jin also has a peer-aged younger sister named Yao Yao; that child inadvertently offended someone powerful, who openly intends to have Yao Yao sued and jailed, but I am weak and alone, now I can't even see the child's face, Yao Yao is still so young, surely frightened out of her wits, I truly have nowhere else to turn.

Shi Qing raised her hand and wiped the corner of her eye.

"If it weren't for this matter, I would absolutely not have brought Little Jin to disturb your peace."

"What are you saying?" Madame Xia disagreed: "If not for this, wouldn't I spend my whole life unaware that I still have grandchildren?"

"Since I know this is our Fu family's child, I cannot just stand by and do nothing."

"With your words, I'm mostly relieved." Shi Qing gazed gratefully at Madame Xia, then supported her son's arm: "Little Jin is also frantic because of his sister's situation."

"Oh dear, no wonder your face looks wan." Madame Xia looked pitifully at Shi Jin: "Good child, are you so anxious you haven't eaten properly? You've grown so tall yet look too thin; don't rush, child, grandma promises you, your sister will be fine."

Shi Qing again gestured to her son: 'Little Jin, quickly say thank you to grandma, where are your manners?'

Perhaps because of his sister, Shi Jin wavered: '... Thank you.'

He still didn't utter the word 'grandma.'

But Madame Xia didn't mind at all; her attitude toward Shi Jin was very tolerant, and in just a short while, the more she looked at him the more she liked him, her heart and eyes filled with the joy of having a biological grandson.

Madame Xia is not a Jing Shi resident; as a lady of the household, it's inconvenient for her to intervene in some matters, so she must return to contact 'outside help.'

She asked Shi Jin: 'Little Jin, do you want to go back with grandma? You've grown this big and still never returned to your own home; if your grandfather saw you, I don't know how happy he'd be.'

Before Shi Jin could refuse.

Shi Qing spoke first: 'Little Jin, you go out first.'

Shi Jin obeyed his mother's words and went out.

Madame Xia saw that Shi Qing had something to say to her, she waited a moment, then heard Shi Qing say: 'Auntie, Little Jin cannot go back with you.'

"Why?" Madame Xia was somewhat displeased.

Shi Qing wanted to speak but held back, then lowered her eyes, her tone difficult: '... Fu Yichuan wouldn't want to see Little Jin, nor would he want to know of Little Jin and Yao Yao's existence.'

In just those two short sentences, Madame Xia figured out the whole story; she sat upright, scrutinizing the woman before her for a few seconds.

Objectively speaking, Madame Xia looked down on Shi Qing.

First, their family backgrounds don't match.

The Shi family's daughter, who had been drifting outside since childhood, was only found when she was in her early teens; unfortunately, the significance of her recovery was not great.

At that time, the Shi family's fortune was exhausted, with no chance to turn things around; they could only be forced into decline, and to this day, in aristocratic circles, they are 'non-existent.'

Many had sighed over the ill fate of this Shi family miss, never having enjoyed a moment of wealthy ease; but from this moment on, Madame Xia also felt Shi Qing was blessed, capable of bearing the Fu family's bloodline.

"I'll speak to Ah Chuan about that."

Madame Xia appeared relaxed, feeling that what Shi Qing said was hardly a big problem.

"This is also his child; blood ties aren't something you can just deny, you needn't worry, and when the time comes, I'll have him personally come pick up the two children and bring them home."

Upon hearing this, a faint gleam of excitement rose in Shi Qing's eyes, as if she had been waiting a long, long time for the moment Madame Xia spoke of.

The Fu clan of Hai Cheng is one of the top two aristocratic families locally; over a decade ago, when the Xie Construction framing case was overturned, the handler—Fu family's second son—saw his official career flourish, while the elder brother, the Fu family's eldest son, also rose smoothly in the business world.

Originally obscure, the Fu clan accumulated strength and then burst forth, firmly planting its roots in Hai Cheng.

This Fu family eldest son is Madame Xia's husband; they met in youth, after marriage their feelings remained stable, they weathered storms together, and they have one son.

"Eldest Young Master."

Water droplets sparkled in the sculpture fountain; as a man walked past under the iron-floral arch, the surrounding servants all stopped their work and respectfully greeted.

Fu Yichuan entered, handed his coat to a servant, and at once saw his mother, who claimed to be seriously ill, calmly sitting on the sofa drinking flower tea.

He was deceived again.

After a moment of silence, the man resignedly walked over, sat opposite Ms. Xia, and wearily rubbed his forehead: 'Go ahead, what do you want? If you're just going to set me up with someone's daughter again, you don't need to bother saying it—I'm busy and won't go.'

'Oh, this time it really isn't.' Ms. Xia broke from her usual manner, dangling a tease: 'Ah Chuan, guess what I went to Jing Shi for yesterday?'

'Visiting exhibitions, attending auctions, donating to charity.'

'You guessed wrong again.' Ms. Xia picked up the teapot, poured a cup for her son as well, then, slightly excited, revealed: 'I went to see my grandson.'

Fu Yichuan didn't take it seriously, thinking his mother was trying to set him up again, and offhandedly joked: 'How come, do you have another son out there?'

'...' You, Fu Yichuan, are you trying to anger me to death?!' Ms. Xia complained to her son: 'This matter can only be blamed on yourself; I and your father have only you as a son, yet look at you—thirty-seven, unmarried, not even dating—do you really want to watch the Fu line die out?'

Fu Yichuan's rubbing of his forehead froze.

'You said... who?'

Ms. Xia repeated: 'Your biological son—Shi Qing, you remember, she gave you a son and a daughter.'

She finished speaking.

Fu Yichuan's face darkened instantly, and he gritted his teeth: 'Did she come to see you?'

Ms. Xia was startled by her son's demeanor, and thought of Shi Qing's words.

'What kind of reaction is this.' Ms. Xia sensed something, narrowed her eyes: 'Ah Chuan, did you already know that Shi Qing bore you children——'

'They have nothing to do with me!' Fu Yichuan reacted strongly, cutting her off sharply, his voice cold as ice: 'Just pretend this never happened.'

Having said that, he started to walk out.

'Stand right there!' Ms. Xia was stunned for a few seconds, then hurriedly shouted: 'I had someone do a paternity test—the two kids are your biological children, and I and your father must acknowledge them back into the Fu family!'

Fu Yichuan said each word deliberately: 'I will not acknowledge it.'

'You think not acknowledging means you don't have to?' Ms. Xia wondered: 'Are you opposed to Shi Qing? I never asked you to marry her; I'm asking you to first bring the children back.'

Absolutely impossible.

'...' You, Fu Yichuan, are you trying to anger me to death?!' Ms. Xia complained to her son: 'This matter can only be blamed on yourself; I and your father have only you as a son, yet look at you—thirty-seven, unmarried, not even dating—do you really want to watch the Fu line die out?'

Ms. Xia felt her son was perfect in every way.

He has upright conduct, a successful career, is filial—but the one flaw is that at his age he still hasn't settled down.

Is that reasonable?

She narrowed her eyes and said sharply: 'Fu Yichuan, don't think I don't know what's on your mind for delaying marriage, and why—let me tell you, it's impossible.'

Not knowing which word of her mother's had struck him, the man stood there with his back rigid.

Seeing her son unmoved.

Ms. Xia's eyes shifted, she suddenly clutched her chest and kept crying out: 'Ouch!'

The surrounding servants rushed over at once.

Ms. Xia had a heart condition, while Fu Yichuan was consistently filial.

Without time to tell true from false, Fu Yichuan anxiously rummaged through his mother's medicine bottles.

Ms. Xia refused to take the medicine, only gripping her son's hand and pleading: 'Ah Chuan, I'm begging you—go to Jing Shi and fetch the children; otherwise I and your father will never rest in peace.'

"..."

After a long silence, Fu Yichuan barely nodded.

…

The next day.

A private jet took off from Sea City and finally landed in Jing Shi.

It was still the same restaurant, the same private room; the difference was that this time the first to arrive were Shi Qing and Shi Jin.

Shi Jin sat in his seat, watching his mother repeatedly check the mirror to tidy her hair and clothes.

Obviously nervous.

He felt nervous about meeting the person later.

Shi Jin silently withdrew his gaze, his eyes falling on the box on the table, which held his mother's homemade chestnut pumpkin cake.